Distylium plant named ‘BLDY01’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Distylium  plant named ‘BLDY01’ is disclosed, characterized by a dense, compact, low-growing habit. Foliage is green with a blue hue at maturity. Plants are well suited for low maintenance landscapes. The new cultivar is a  Distylium , suitable for ornamental garden purposes.

Latin name of the genus and species: Distylium hybrida.

Variety denomination: ‘BLDY01’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new cultivar is a product of a planned breeding program by the inventor. This new variety, hereinafter referred to as ‘BLDY01’, was found as the result of an open pollination conducted during 2009 which included a group of unnamed, unpatented Distylium hybrida plants as parents. The inventor discovered the unique seedling in Independence, La., at a research nursery during Spring of 2012.

After identifying the new variety as a potentially interesting selection, the inventor first organized propagation of ‘BLDY01’ by semi-hardwood cuttings during Summer of 2015 at a nursery in Loxley, Ala. The inventor continued confidential, controlled testing and propagation, assessing stability of the unique characteristics of this variety. Multiple generations have been reproduced and have shown that the unique features of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘BLDY01’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, day length, and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype. The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘BLDY01’ These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘BLDY01’ as a new and distinct Distylium cultivar:

-   -   1. Low growing, mounding plant habit.     -   2. Suitability for low maintenance landscape.     -   3. Shiny green mature foliage with a blue-green hue.     -   4. Dense, compact growth.

COMPARISON TO PARENT VARIETY

The parent varieties are unidentified.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

‘BLDY01’ can be compared to the commercial variety Distylium myricoides x racemosum ‘Vintage Jade’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 23,128. Plants of the new cultivar ‘BLDY01’ are similar to plants of ‘Vintage Jade’ in most horticultural characteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar ‘BLDY01’ differ in the following:

-   -   1. ‘BLDY01’ is a more compact plant than ‘Vintage Jade’, growing         to approximately 50% of the mature size of this comparator.     -   2. ‘BLDY01’ produces smaller foliage.

‘BLDY01’ can be compared to the commercial variety Distylium hybrida ‘BLDY02’, filed concurrently and having U.S. Plant application Ser. No. 16/602,972. Plants of the new cultivar ‘BLDY01’ are similar to plants of ‘BLDY02’ in most horticultural characteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar ‘BLDY01’ differ in the following:

-   -   1. ‘BLDY01’ grows approximately 30 cm shorter at maturity than         ‘BLDY02’.     -   2. ‘BLDY02’ produces bronze new growth not seen on ‘BLDY01’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color a plant of ‘BLDY01’ grown outdoors in Alabama.

FIG. 2 shows a close up of typical foliage of the new variety. The plant is approximately 2 years old, and is shown planted in the ground.

The photographs were taken using conventional techniques and although colors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectance it is as accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart 2007 except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observations and measurements describe ‘BLDY01’ plants grown outdoors in Loxley, Ala. Plants are approximately 2 years old, in a 2 gallon nursery container. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plant types.

-   Botanical classification: Distylium hybrida ‘BLDY01’.

PROPAGATION

-   Typically by semi-hardwood stem cuttings. -   Root description: Woody to semi-woody. Colored near RHS Brown 200D. -   Time to initiate roots: About 4 to 7 weeks at about 27 to 30° C. -   Time to produce a rooted young plant: Approximately 9 to 12 weeks in     the Summer.

PLANT

-   Growth habit: Flattened, broad globular, evergreen shrub. -   Height: Approximately 40 cm. -   Plant spread: Approximately 40 cm. -   Branching characteristics: Well branched, approximately 8 lateral     branches emerge from a pinch. Smaller lateral branches occurring     along main stems. Branches occur at approximately 25° to 55° angles. -   Primary branches: -   Length of primary branches: Average 8 to 15 cm. -   Diameter of primary branches: Average range 4 to 8 mm. -   Primary branch strength: Moderately strong. -   Primary branch color: Near RHS Grey-Orange 166C. -   Primary branch texture: Rough, nearly scaly. -   Lateral branches:     -   -   Color.—New growth near RHS Greyed-Yellow 161B. Mature growth             near Grey-Orange 165A.         -   Length.—Average range 6 to 22 cm.         -   Diameter.—Approximately 4 mm.         -   Aspect.—Slightly curved.         -   Texture.—Immature slightly pubescent, mature rough, somewhat             scabrous.         -   Strength.—Moderately strong, flexible.         -   Internode.—Average range 0.09 cm to 2.0 cm. -   Age of plant described: Approximately 2 years.

FOLIAGE

-   Leaf:     -   -   Type.—Simple.         -   Arrangement.—Alternate.         -   Average length.—Approximately 3 to 4 cm.         -   Average width.—Approximately 1.2 cm.         -   Shape of blade.—Elliptic.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Attenuate.         -   Attachment.—Sessile.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Internode.—Average 0.5 cm.         -   Texture of top surface.—Glabrous.         -   Texture of bottom surface.—Glabrous.         -   Appearance of top surface.—Glossy.         -   Appearance of bottom surface.—Matte.         -   Color.—Young foliage upper side: Near RHS Green 139C. Young             foliage under side: Near RHS Green 136C. Mature foliage             upper side: Near RHS Green 139A overlaid with 126C and             Blue-Green 124D. Mature foliage under side: Near RHS Green             136C.         -   Venation.—Type: Pinnate. Venation color upper side: Near RHS             Green 143C. Venation color under side: Near RHS Green 143D.

FLOWER

-   Not observed to date.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

-   Not observed to date.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Disease and pest resistance: Neither resistance nor susceptibility     to normal diseases and pests observed. -   Temperature tolerance: USDA Zone 7 to 9. -   Fruit/seed production: Not observed to date. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Distylium plant named ‘BLDY01’ as herein illustrated and described. 